Evaluación de la Función Ejecutiva en Usuarios con Dependencia de Pasta Base de Cocaína Mediante una Batería Neuropsicológica

Addiction to cocaine paste is a serious health problem in Chile. Drug addiction is associated with deficits affecting executive functions, which are located in prefrontal regions of the brain. The aim of this study was to compare the neuropsychological performance of a group of cocaine paste dependent individuals receiving treatment in 4 public centers (n = 27) to that of a control group (n = 16). A comparative cross-sectional design was used, with a set of neuropsychological instruments being administered: the Stroop Color and Word Test, the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, the Iowa Gambling Task, the Trail Making Test, the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, the Verbal Fluency Test, and the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale. A multivariate analysis of variance was used, controlling for depression level. This procedure revealed that the dependent group performed more poorly on the learning curve and scored higher on the disinhibition and executive dysfunction subscales of the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale. Overall, results fall in line with the literature reviewed.